3 Signs That Your Garage Door May Be On Its Way Out

Homeowners typically use their garage doors many times a day. Over the course of a year, your garage door can pass through thousands of opening and closing sequences. While garage doors are generally built to be fairly robust, over time even the sturdiest garage door is subject to wear and tear. Eventually, it will need to be replaced.

What’s the worst way to discover that your garage door requires replacement? The door refuses to open, your car is trapped in the garage, and you can’t get where you need to go. Avoid that situation. Look for these three signs that may indicate that your garage door is on its way out.

Damaged Wires, Cords, or Parts

If your garage door has broken wires or cords, contact a professional to investigate further. Only a licensed and registered contractor should attempt to deal with potential damage to electrical fixtures. The cords and wires control your garage door’s movements, so once these are damaged, you will find it quite difficult to open and close your garage doors safely. Some parts can be easy to fix, while others require the whole garage door to be replaced.

Another thing to consider is how much energy your garage door uses. Your energy bills could be increasing because your garage door is not operating efficiently and is using more energy than it should. Damaged wiring or an aging garage door may cause this problem. The new garage doors on the market today are a lot more energy efficient than older styles.

Opening and Closing

Generally, when you push the controller button to open or close your garage door, it should respond instantly. However, if your garage door has a slower response than normal, or if it becomes stuck half way up or down, it may be reaching the end of its functional life.

If your garage door has become unresponsive or erratic when opening or closing, ask a technician to look at it as soon as possible. A door that is stuck half open can be a security risk for your home, and it may also pose a safety risk for you or your family. You don’t want it to suddenly drop while someone passes underneath.

Noises or Shaking

Older-style garage doors make a lot of noise when they open and close. However, if the noise becomes excessive or increases dramatically over a short period, your garage door likely has a serious problem with the mechanisms, and it may be time to invest in a new garage door.

If your garage door shakes and shudders as it opens or closes, your garage door likely has broken or worn parts which are making the door move unevenly. It’s possible that your garage door may be easy to repair, but only a professional contractor will have the knowledge and experience to know for certain.

If you suspect that your garage door is nearing the end of its life, you’ll need to get professional advice. Trying to fix the door yourself isn’t a wise idea, nor is delaying an inspection of the door until it becomes unusable and potentially dangerous. Every year, thousands of Americans are injured by garage doors. Many of these injuries may have been prevented by repairing or replacing the garage door in a timely manner, and by ensuring that only skilled professionals service, repair, and install them.

If you’re unsure about whether to replace your garage door, contact the helpful team at Shank Door. They can assess your garage door’s condition and advise you on the best course of action to take.